An unplanned consequence of the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy could be a million new speed limit signs in the countryside, according to analysis by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

NOTES FOR EDITORS

A statistical breakdown showing predicted new speed limit sign numbers and costs, broken down for each local authority area is shown in this PDF:
> A million new speed limit signs? (632 PDF)

Ralph Smyth, Senior Transport Campaigner said:

‘After deciding against a blanket 50 mph national speed limit, the Government wants to encourage local authorities to consider introducing lower speed limits locally, which require repeater signs about every 300 yards.  But it has not thought through the national costs and implications. Its piecemeal plans could require a million repeater speed limit signs that would deface the countryside and distract drivers while costing £300 million.’

‘We need to make rural roads safer and all the evidence points to reducing speed limits as the most important single step.  We need a common sense compromise between imposing a new blanket limit and a million new signs, which cash strapped local authorities are unlikely to introduce anytime soon.’

Following research on best practice in other European countries, CPRE is calling for:

• a reduction in the national speed limit for rural single-carriageway roads to 50 mph but allowing local authorities discretion to keep their safest roads at 60 mph;

• powers to introduce 40 mph zones on minor rural roads, based on the success of 20 mph zones on residential roads, neither of which require repeater signs; and

• reducing red tape to make introducing more 20 mph zones on residential streets and Quiet Lanes easier and cheaper.

Last month, CPRE set out its new vision for the countryside [3], which includes a step change in the number of people walking and cycling.  So it is particularly concerning that the Strategy does nothing to improve safety on minor rural roads [4] that form key links for those on foot, cycle or horseback.  

Ralph Smyth concluded:

‘Lowering speed limits on main roads but keeping country lanes at 60 mph will turn them into rat-runs and racetracks.  Let’s spend transport budgets where the money is really needed on filling potholes and improving conditions for walking, riding and cycling by lower speed zones, not on unnecessary repeater signs.’

-End-

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. A Safer Way: Consultation on Making Britain’s Roads the Safest in the World was published by the Department for Transport in April 2009.  Because 62% of road fatalities in 2007 were on rural roads, the strategy does focus on these.  But it only proposes to rewrite guidance to encourage local authorities to lower speed limits.

2. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Bill Bryson. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

3. CPRE launched 2026 - A Vision for the Countryside in May, setting out a positive and optimistic vision for the future of the beautiful English countryside in 2026, the charity’s centenary year. The Vision’s key issues include: affordable, high quality housing; urban regeneration; Green Belts; better planning; green energy; local food and farming; more walking and cycling; light pollution and valuing the countryside as a national asset.  For further information go to www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/environment/2026-a-vision-for-the-countryside.

4. In New Directions in Speed Management (2001) the Government said that: ‘The one aspect of the national speed limit system that comes in for most criticism is the notion that 60 mph is a reasonable maximum speed on country lanes’.  However, the new consultation proposes that authorities make tackling A and B single carriageways the priority and proposes nothing new for C and Unclassified roads.  The DfT's guidance in 2006 on Setting Local Speed Limits suggested that 40 and 50 mph speed limits be introduced in these types of road but no authority has had the resources to do this on a widespread basis.